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Finn, Kas and Willow have survived the winter of storms. Severe winds and cold have kept the Wilders at bay. Now that spring has come, everything has changed. They're being hunted again, and they won't be safe while Ramage wants their blood.

But Finn and Kas made a promise to Rose - to find her baby and bring her back. And finding Hope means finding Ramagea

Wilder Country is the exciting, action-packed sequel to Mark Smith's highly acclaimed The Road to Winter.

About the Author

Mark Smith lives on Victoria’s Surf Coast where he writes and runs outdoor education programs for young adults. His writing has won a number of awards and has appeared in Best Australian Stories, Review of Australian Fiction and the Big Issue.

excellent follow up from a talented author

5

Wilder Country is the second book in the Winter series by Australian teacher and author, Mark Smith. It's some months since the tragic events that saw Rose's death and the kidnapping of baby Hope by Wilder leader, Ben Ramage. The loss has hit Finn, Kas and Willow hard: each has grieved in their own way, but while Kas has been numb and silent, Finn has taken Willow under his wing, teaching her survival skills during the reprieve from Wilder attack that the winter snows provide.
But now it's time to keep their promise to Rose: to find Hope and bring her home. And that will mean entering Wilder Country. Heading north via Finn's good friend Ray in the Addiscot Valley, they are disturbed to encounter two Wilders and a scene of devastation. But with spring almost upon them, they can't afford to delay. They formulate a plan they can only hope will not be derailed too much.
Smith gives the reader another action-packed instalment of this excellent YA trilogy. Finn and co are clever and resourceful, brave and loyal, and very determined. Again, this post-apocalyptic tale has heroes and villains (and, yes, some violence), humour and heartache, and plenty of excitement. It may be branded Young Adult, but it is certain to be enjoyed by older readers as well. Reading the books in order is recommended as there are spoilers for the first book in this one.
Smith's young protagonists are often surprisingly mature, and while their youth provides energy and resilience, their lack of life experience occasionally means they misplace trust and make poor decisions. Readers will find it hard not to invest in these characters, and will be eager for the final instalment, The Land of Fences, to know their ultimate fate. An excellent follow-up from a talented author

Cloggie Downunder

Thirroul

2017-08-30

An excellent follow-up from a talented author

5

Wilder Country is the second book in the Winter series by Australian teacher and author, Mark Smith. It's some months since the tragic events that saw Rose's death and the kidnapping of baby Hope by Wilder leader, Ben Ramage. The loss has hit Finn, Kas and Willow hard: each has grieved in their own way, but while Kas has been numb and silent, Finn has taken Willow under his wing, teaching her survival skills during the reprieve from Wilder attack that the winter snows provide.
But now it's time to keep their promise to Rose: to find Hope and bring her home. And that will mean entering Wilder Country. Heading north via Finn's good friend Ray in the Addiscot Valley, they are disturbed to encounter two Wilders and a scene of devastation. But with spring almost upon them, they can't afford to delay. They formulate a plan they can only hope will not be derailed too much.
Smith gives the reader another action-packed instalment of this excellent YA trilogy. Finn and co are clever and resourceful, brave and loyal, and very determined. Again, this post-apocalyptic tale has heroes and villains (and, yes, some violence), humour and heartache, and plenty of excitement. It may be branded Young Adult, but it is certain to be enjoyed by older readers as well. Reading the books in order is recommended as there are spoilers for the first book in this one.
Smith's young protagonists are often surprisingly mature, and while their youth provides energy and resilience, their lack of life experience occasionally means they misplace trust and make poor decisions. Readers will find it hard not to invest in these characters, and will be eager for the final instalment, The Land of Fences, to know their ultimate fate. An excellent follow-up from a talented author

Cloggie Downunder

Thirroul

2017-08-27

Wilder Country

5.02

0.0

`A riveting story of survival that questions the prices of freedom and safety as well as the value of an individual life...A breakout new series full of romance, danger, and a surprisingly engaging world.' * Kirkus, Starred Review for The Road to Winter * 'This book canvasses some important and relevant issues and it does so through the prism of young eyes...It balances the softness of helping others and emotional themes with the vivid and exciting action of fear, survival and revenge.' -- Cass Moriarty, author of The Promise Seed `Mark Smith's sequel picks up seamlessly where Road to Winter left off. In Wilder Country, Finn continues his fight to survive by dodging the Wilder gang, led by the loathsome Ramage, and forming a new kind of family with Kas and Willow from book one. An unmissable series.' * Sydney Morning Herald * `The superb pacing, natural dialogue, and vivid descriptions of a country and people ravaged by disaster make this a pulse-pounding read...A strong addition to the genre.' * Kirkus * `A page-turner told in an unaffected, Australian voice.' -- Joy Lawn * Australian * `Satisfying.' * NZ Listener, 50 Best Books for Kids * `Mark Smith writes in a taut style that keeps the pages turning...Absorbing entertainment, this is what most young folk would look for in reading.' * Magpies * `If you love dystopian narratives with nail-biting life-and-death situations, then Mark Smith's Wilder Country is for you. My only regret is that I have to wait until book three hits bookstore shelves.' * Kids' Book Review * `Issues of survival, trust and honour make this a great book for reading groups...A much anticipated sequel that reminds me of the Tomorrow When the War Began series.' * Lamont Books * `The sequel to Mark Smith's The Road to Winter is a page-turner with a heart and soul, tightly packed with exquisitely rendered action and nail-biting scenes of peril, all layered with emotional authenticity.' * Written by Sime * `A rip-roaring story-gripping and compelling, I couldn't put it down. Mark Smith creates this dangerous, lawless new world and manages to champion the decency of youth. Very timely. And what makes it so powerful is that it's frighteningly believable.' * Robert Newton * 'The superb pacing, natural dialogue, and vivid descriptions of a country and people ravaged by disaster make this a pulse-pounding read...A strong addition to the genre.' * Kirkus Reviews *